Ben Hubbert, co-owner of Champion AC, is a former member of Special Operations in the Air Force, who's now committed to helping San Antonio reduce our community's demands on the energy grid. Visit championac.com or twitter.com/championac or call (210) 699-0022 for more information.

Note: This is an mySA.com City Brights Blog. These blogs are not written or edited by mySA or the San Antonio Express-News. The authors are solely responsible for the content.

Which Energy-Efficient Habits Are Most Popular?

A new poll was released this week on Americans and their energy-efficiency habits at home. A majority of people say they’re making some sort of changes at home in regards to energy efficiency. But they’re not taking advantage of several of the most effective changes.

First, the good news. Of the 2,056 adult Americans surveyed by The Harris Poll, 82% said they’re doing things like turning off lights and TVs when not in use, 58% have switched to more efficient light bulbs and 55% specifically look for Energy Star labels when they buy new appliances. In addition, 55% of people in the south change their air filters every month, more than double the amount of people who do so in the north and west.

Now, some things we can all improve on. Granted, these home improvements cost money, but they can also have a tremendous impact on your electricity bill. The survey found only 37% of Americans have installed a programmable thermostat, only 29% have installed low-flow toilets and only 27% have proper attic insulation.

Finally, only 11% of those surveyed said they’ve received an energy audit at their home. It’s easy to get that number on the rise here in San Antonio. If you sign up for the CPS Energy Savers program, most homeowners can get a professional energy audit for just $25. You can find more information on the CPS Energy website.

(Ben Hubbert is the co-owner of Champion AC, a heating and air conditioning company in San Antonio. He’s also the main force behind Champion AC’s San Antonio Energy Champions program. Connect with Ben on Google+.)